20/20 Vision: Eyes On Jesus Mostra

Blindness and Looking Back 

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, two angels arrived in the city and Lot insisted that they stay under the protection of his home. The men of the city came to do what ought not be done to the heavenly visitors, and Lot went out to plead with them saying in verse 7, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing.” The rebellious crowd pushed their way to the door. 

According to Genesis 19:10-11, “But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.” The wicked men of the city, fixated on pursuing their sinful desires, suddenly found themselves struck with blindness. But that wasn’t all. In Genesis 19:13 we find, “the outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us (referring to the two angels) to destroy it.” 

It was high time for Lot and his family to get out of dodge and flee. The two visitors led Lot, his wife and two daughters out of the city and warned them in verse 17, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 

By the time they reached Zoar, burning sulfur pelted down on Sodom and Gomorrah in total destruction. In a desperate moment of disobedience, Lot’s wife turned to look back. You can almost picture her in slow motion, her hair cascading over her shoulder, her eyes widening at the horrific scene as she turned into a pillar of salt; tragically frozen in her disobedient look. Luke 17:32 says, “Remember Lot’s wife”, and don’t look back. 

In Luke 9:62, “Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” These words emphasize the importance of looking forward. In fact, in Philippians 3:13-14 Paul urges us to keep looking ahead when we says, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” With eyes on Christ, we keep plowing ahead, not stopping to look back. 

Where might sin be causing you blindness? In what areas are you tempted to look back? What keeps you from walking in obedience? 

A Prayer:

Dear Lord, Open our eyes to the sin in our lives that we may have turned a blind eye to and bring us to repentance. Please help us learn from past mistakes, but not dwell on them. Help us remember Lot’s wife when we are tempted to disobey and go our own way. Make us fit for service in your kingdom and help us keep our eyes on you, Jesus. There is none like you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.